Tag Archives: Punk Rock

Live Shows, Music, New Release, Punk, Random

Missed Festival, Wedding, & 3OH3!

28 September, 2008 Brian Mc 1 Comment

I’ve had a few days off now and it all comes to an end in less than 5 hours. I took some time away from work to be with friends as one of us was getting married. I normally do not like weddings as they are very formal and of course I am not a church goer.

I feel like I canceled some plans too in order to attend the wedding. I thought I told Matt that I was going to hook up with him sometime this weekend as he and his friend were going to be in Kent for We The People Fest. I told Matt that my wife and I were possibly going to see Hawthorne Heights and Ben Taylor play at the fest on Friday and also check out the rest of the event but in turn we decided to crash the wedding rehearsal party. Saturday was an all day event for the wedding, and Sunday we were too pooped to go out there and see the final day, plus the Cleveland Browns were playing. (Finally, a win!)

Sorry Matt… I hope it was a good time. I hope you can forgive me and tell me a little about it…if you went.

I am sorry too, Chuck Norris, as I know you were speaking on Sunday. I know you wanted me to be there.

So let me tell you a little about the wedding…

My friends Sam and Ryan decided to tie the knot. Sam is a few years younger than me and I have known him for a while. He grew up in the same city as I did. I met him through friends and thanks to beer and punk rock music we became friends.

Sam met Ryan, they fell in love, and got married. They had a wedding locally and my wife and I were invited along with plenty of friends. The neat thing about the wedding is that it was sort of a punk rock wedding with a lot of guests being in local punk rock acts at one time or currently. Sam wore Chuck Taylors as did the groomsmen and when the happy couple entered the reception hall “Hey Ho Let’s Go” was played.

I sat at a table with my friends who some were also members of The Facials. They are a Cleveland punk rock band that has played tons of shows in Cleveland and Akron as well has opened for Rancid and UK Subs. They are currently working on a new album and I will be sure to share it once it is pressed.

Also as the wedding were friends of mine who were once in the now defunct punk acts such as the Narcoleptics X5, the Beat Kids, and Novallos. Its been a while since some of the bands played local shows. It was awesome to see that even that some of the bands separated that they still remained friends. The groom was actually a member of all three of the bands.

At one time during the day, the former drummer of Novallos, Ryan, was sitting next to me at a bar in between the wedding and reception, and we were talking about how he moved to Colorado and recently moved back. Before long we started talking about music. He asked me if I was at the Warped Tour this summer and when I said I was he asked if I saw a band called 3OH3!. I said hell yes.

I told Ryan that I loved 3OH3! and caught their entire set at the Warped Tour. Knowing that they were from Colorado I already knew what he was going to tell me. He knew them. I was stoked to hear Ryan tell stories about them. He then told me that they would be playing in Cleveland in November and asked me and my wife if we wanted to hang out with them. I thought that was pretty awesome. We shall see what happens.

The band is relatively new but has been making a strong impact on many music lovers. Their mix of emo, punk, and crunk really made me a fan. I reviewed their debut Want and will post it in my archives on here.

If I do happen to kick it with 3OH3! I will be sure to let you all know how it was.

Music, New Release, Punk, Review, Rock

Street Dogs – State Of Grace – CD Review

12 September, 2008 Brian Mc Leave a comment

One of my favorite Irish infused, punk rock bands the Street Dogs dropped yet another release over the summer titled State of Grace. Fronted by the one time lead vocalist of the infamous Dropkick Murphys, this CD delivers powerful punk rock anthems fueled with a traditional Irish feel to it. This is the band’s fourth release and their first under Hellcat Records.

Lead singer Mike McColgan is one of the most American punk rockers you will ever meet. Before fronting the Dropkick Murphys, he served time overseas during the Gulf War to help pay for school. When he returned, he helped start the Dropkick Murphys in 1996 and released Do or Die; it was the only album he released with the band. In 1998 he left the Dropkick Murphys to pursue his dream of becoming a fireman. Fast forward a couple of years later to 2002 and McColgan got the music fever again and started the Street Dogs.

On their fourth full length release the five-some sounds stronger than ever. Album opener “Mean Fist” is impressive with a full on punk rock approach start to finish. “Into The Valley” sounded like an anti-war group marching song insuring escalating spirits for all soldiers involved in this senseless war.

Other stand out songs are “Rebel Song” with McColgan signing his heart out about standing up in a poor nation to rise above. The song reassures the underprivileged that they should continue to do what they do and unite. “The General’s Boombox” continued the high spirit lyrics about staying true to yourself.

“Elizabeth” reminds me of an Irish pub song that everyone in the house could sing-a-long to. Another sing-a-long track “Two Angry Kids” would be best listened to away from the bar as the song makes you want to dance wildly around and pump your fists in the air.

“San Patricios” is by far my favorite track. The Irish meets Mexican song is insane. I loved the Spanish singing and guitar riffs layered with punk rock. The Irish/Mexican unity track recalls back to the times when the Irish teamed with the Mexicans for their fight against the US to save Mexico.

If you are looking for a band that has similarities of the Dropkick Murphys keep in mind that even though McColgan was the original lead vocalist that the Street Dogs take a different approach at Irish punk rock with less bagpipe playing and alcohol inspired tracks. From political views to the love of family and friends this CD was amazing especially the third time I listened to it.

The first listen was an introduction but by the third listen I was hooked. This is one of the better punk rock albums that has been released in 2008. Street Dogs exist because of the love of music for an Irish gent straight out of Boston. If you are looking for punk rock at its finest go out and grab a copy of State of Grace.

Check out the Street Dogs live this fall. For more info visit their website or check out their MySpace.

Music, Punk, Review

The Briggs – Come All You Madmen – CD Review

24 August, 2008 Brian Mc 1 Comment

The Briggs are a punk rock act that had a hard time getting to me. I am not saying that I was forced to listen to them; rather I missed many occasions to sample them in the past. I either heard a song by them on a compilation and never researched it or simply showed up to a live show just as they left the stage. Missed opportunities did not discourage me though as I finally had the prospect of seeing the Irish punk rockers The Briggs live at the 2008 Van’s Warped Tour and I made damn sure I was in the audience before they took stage.

The Los Angeles punk rock act won me over with their punk rock energy and wholesome sound. I was excited at my decision of finally checking them out as they were one of the few true punk rock acts on the popular tour. Recently releasing their fourth full length album Come All You Madmen I finally got a taste of what I have been missing all these years and I must say it was scrumptious.

Formed in 2001 the foursome has continually toured the US with heavy hitting punk rock acts such as the Dropkick Murphys and Bad Religion. They work hard at what they do and take it to heart. Once quoted as saying that Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello are more punk than most of the punk bands out there today by taking chances and being serious about what they do, The Briggs continue the trend.

“Mad Man” started up the album with politically powerful lyrics and had plenty of sing-a-long opportunities. The Briggs’ ode to “LA” almost has an Oi feel to it but by no means sounds like a simple creation; this ode is heartfelt to their hometown.

“Bloody Minds” had a hint of Against Me! to it, but the song was really likable, especially the horns making for one of my choice cuts off this disc. Another track “Not Alone” really captured my attention too. The song was catchy with unity inspired lyrics layered on top of pleasant sounding punk rock.

“Oblivion” takes a change in the CD’s direction toning down the punk rock feel. The change is welcomed as it is a great song more rock and seemingly more personal to The Briggs. “Final Words” slows down a tad with a song I feel might have sounded a little better if it were sped up. At times I am reminded of something the Clash might have created but not enough for me to want to keep this song on repeat.

“Molly” crawled past me as the closer of the album. What a change in tempo from first to last song. The song is more of an Irish bawl that would be suitable for a drunken evening in a pub. I am not sure why the band started so strong and then ended it with almost a sleeper of a track. Perhaps it was a metaphor I completely missed.

If you are thinking that maybe punk is dead or over processed then maybe you should check out The Briggs. In my opinion they were one of the bands that helped make the 2008 Warped Tour more memorable and after seeing them live and even talking to them at their merch tent (friendliest band ever), I had to check out their newest release. What they have created was not thrown together in hopes of making a quick buck. They are very passionate about the music they display and prove it on Come All You Madmen. Check out their MySpace page if you need some proof.

The Briggs - Live @ Cleveland Warped Tour 2008